Sammy fell.
It wasn't like all the other times, a shot of adrenaline or fear before he hit the ground.
It was peaceful.
Serene.
And it was heartbreaking.
He could feel his mask shatter, the shards digging into his skin from where he lay on the ground.
He could feel the gushing wetness coming from the area of his heart.
He could feel everything.
He could feel nothing.
Blackness encroached on the edge of his vision, and he welcomed the feeling with open arms.
Anything to take away the loneliness.
Anything to make him forget.
And when that black tunnel appeared, when that damned white light appeared, he wanted to laugh at the bitter irony.
He might follow a monster, might act like a monster. But he was only human, and humans break.
His personality ripped away with the feel of burning knives.
His eyes taken and replaced with glowing orbs.
His life stolen and his mind broken.
He was Sammy.
But he was not.
So when that black tunnel came to an end, when that white light filled his vision.
He didn't laugh.
He smiled.
And if he felt a prickling at the corners of his eyes, he ignored it.
Because he could see the faces, see the people, his precious people.
Not his family, they left and he was alone.
Not his acquaintances, they didn't matter.
But his colleagues, his co-workers, from the Studio.
They had supported him, helped him, guided him.
They were everything.
And when he saw Joey, saw Henry, his grin got a little wider. A little more real.
So if he started running, before jumping and then sliding on his knees.
If he arranged his face into an expression of acceptance.
Then who f*cking cared?
They could see through his mask and that was enough.
They let him keep it, let him wear it, but he knew that they cared, that they knew.
So when he opened his mouth, and his catchphrase spilled out. He saw their faces filled with a reluctant amusement, saw their expression of love, of kindness.
"Can I get an Amen!?"
He clung to his mask, waiting, watching, because this was it.
"Amen" ,"Amen".
The masked slipped, the mask shattered.
And he smiled.
This was how it was supposed to be.
This is how it was.
And he was home.